Post navigation

GITTELSON BITS column

Erik Aude, a former All-Southern Section football player from Bethel Christian High in Lancaster who served nearly three years in a Pakistani prison on heroin-smuggling charges, has won a $20 million civil judgement in a Los Angeles court against the man Aude said set him up.

Aude, 24, has always maintained he was duped into unwittingly transporting drugs sewn into suitcases after being hired as an international courier for a supposed leather-goods importer. Now a U.S. court has agreed with him.

Aude also has sold the movie rights to his story to Hollywood producer Robert Chartkoff of “Rocky” fame, according to Daily Variety.

“It’s a pretty solid deal. I’m curious to see what happens,” Aude said.

Aude said he was hung by his feet and beaten during some of the many torture sessions he said he endured in prison until being released in late December 2004. On another forgettable occasion, Aude said his fingers were broken one by one.

“Now that I’m back, I appreciate all the little things,” Aude said. “I’ll probably never see any of that $20million – I hear the guy we sued is being deported – but it doesn’t really matter.”

Aude, now living in Sherman Oaks, has received a fee for the upcoming movie, tentatively titled “Odd Days,” and he also works as a Hollywood club promoter.

— Patrick Larimore, a junior linebacker from Hart High of Newhall, had his coming-out party during the annual Nike football combine at USC this past weekend.

“He was unbelievable, probably one of the top two linebackers, and his film is off the charts,” said Greg Biggins, recruiting director at Student Sports. “The kid’s a monster with great feet, just a great player.”

Duke and San Diego State have offered a scholarship to Larimore, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder who totaled 138 tackles last season but for some reason didn’t earn All-Southern Section recognition.

Expect more scholarship offers to come soon.

“UCLA should offer him,” Biggins said. “The school is right in his backyard, and I hear Patrick wants to go there.”

Other locals who impressed at the Nike fest were running back Milton Knox (Birmingham of Lake Balboa), quarterbacks Dayne Crist (Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks) and Ryan Griffin (Chaminade of West Hills), safety E.J. Woods (Crespi of Encino), tight end Joseph Fauria (Crespi of Encino) and defensive linemen Marquis and Malik Jackson (Birmingham).

All were among the top at their respective positions, Biggins said.

— Tony Reed, a former Montclair Prep of Panorama City baseball standout in the 1970s remembered for hitting tape-measure home runs, is among those who have confirmed to appear in the first-ever alumni baseball game against the varsity at 11 a.m. Saturday at Montclair Prep’s new field in Encino.

It will interesting to see if Montclair Prep’s current athletic director, Ken Smith, who played with Reed, still has his patented left-handed knuckleball.

Considering the Mounties have won six section championships and sent alums Russ Ortiz and Brad Fullmer to the major leagues, it should be an interesting event. Information: (818) 994-8609.

— A group opposed to a recent ban against metal baseball bats are going down swinging, according to an AP report.

“Don’t Take My Bat Away,” a newly-formed group representing coaches, players, youth baseball enthusiasts and bat makers, announced it will file a lawsuit seeking to block the ruling.

The ban, which would take effect in September, would force nearly 10,000 players to shelve all metal bats in favor of wood.

— Harry Welch, who coached Canyon High to a California State Div. I title this past season, threw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

“It was a thrill of a lifetime that I’ll take to my grave,” Welch said. “It was a high inside fastball, but they called it a strike.”

Meta

Comments Policy

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@langnews.com.